
Land, SoiL, Water, naturaL Vegetation and WiLdLife reSourceS
15
Most of these chemicals are non-biodegradable and
reach human bodies through water. Water pollution can
be controlled by treating these effluents suitably before
releasing them in water bodies.
Forest and other vegetation cover slow the
surface runoff and replenish underground
water. Water harvesting is another method
to save surface runoff. The canals used
for irrigating field should be properly
lined to minimise losses by water seepage.
Sprinklers effectively irrigate the area by
checking water losses through seepage and
evaporation. In dry regions with high rates
of evaporation, drip or trickle irrigation is
very useful. The valuable water resource
can therefore be conserved by adopting
these means of irrigation.
natUraL vegetation and WiLdLife
Some school children were visiting an exhibition on
handicrafts. The articles in the exhibition were collected
from different parts of the country. Mona picked up a bag
and exclaimed, “This is a beautiful handbag!” “Yes, it
is made from Jute,” the teacher said. “Do you see those
baskets, lamp shades and chairs? Those are made of
canes and bamboos. In the eastern and north eastern
humid regions of India, bamboo grows in plenty.” Jassy
was excited to see a silk scarf. “See this beautiful
scarf”. The teacher explained that silk is obtained from
silk worms that are bred on Mulberry trees. The children
understood that plants provide us with many different
products that we use in our day-to-day life.
Natural vegetation and wildlife exist only
in the narrow zone of contact between the
lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
that we call biosphere. In the biosphere living
beings are inter-related and interdependent
on each other for survival. This life supporting
system is known as the ecosystem. Vegetation
and wildlife are valuable resources. Plants
provide us with timber, give shelter to animals,
produce oxygen we breathe, protects soils so
Do you know?
Rain water
harvesting is
the process of
collecting rain
water from roof
tops and directing
it to an appropriate
location where
it is stored for
future use. On an
average, one spell
of rain for two
hours is enough to
save 8,000 litres of
water.
Fig 2.10: Silk Worms
Fig 2.9: A Water Sprinkler
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